Worst case of condensation? (1 Viewer)

Janine

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
13,951
41,483
A little bit left of Middle England
Funster No
142
MH
2006 A/S Nuevo
Exp
since 1988
My son and I went to look at an A class Pilote on a 14 plate this morning to replace the one he has. The layout works better for him with the drop-down bed. This is the one - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202210040403436

The seller is a caravan sales centre locally and the owner said that the asking price of £45,995 reflected the fact that the upholstery needed replacing and the van needed a good clean.

There were lots of tell-tale signs of adaptations by previous owners and a few blemishes, but they were largely cosmetic. I suspect that someone has been living in it and maybe not cherishing it. (I do have a theory….)

We pulled the bed down and were greeted with a ceiling which was literally dripping with water!

Obviously we have walked away from this one but do all vans with drop-down beds suffer like this in cold weather?

B1342FFB-458F-4191-A79D-8E4BC62AF3D5.jpeg
 
Last edited:
May 29, 2013
2,535
17,815
Tyneside
Funster No
26,231
MH
Chausson best of Flash 10
Exp
Several years now
We have an electric bed which goes up to the ceiling, in winter we take all the bedding off it so the bed frame is about 3" from the ceiling. No condensation at all.
 
Aug 22, 2007
2,324
28,446
essex
Funster No
145
MH
2017 sunlight t69s euro6
Exp
since 1999
none in mine but mine is more in the middle of the van

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Mar 28, 2010
165
315
Wirral
Funster No
10,821
MH
A class Hymer 504
Exp
Since 1995
I'm on my third A-class with drop down bed. One a Niesmann& Bischoff Arto, and two Hymers. None of them suffered from condensation dripping for the ceiling or anywhere when the van is not being used - can get condensation when cooking if we don't open the windows.
 

ROCHESB

Free Member
Mar 18, 2022
112
211
Funster No
87,516
MH
Itineo SB740
Exp
SInce 2002
Just checked our Itineo A-Class, it's bone dry.....
 
OP
OP
Janine

Janine

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
13,951
41,483
A little bit left of Middle England
Funster No
142
MH
2006 A/S Nuevo
Exp
since 1988
I wonder why this one was so bad?

The mattress must have been absolutely sodden although I didn’t feel inclined to touch it 🤭

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Sep 17, 2017
4,924
8,722
Birmingham, UK
Funster No
50,575
MH
A-Class
Exp
2017
We've got the same layout in our Geist i585 and the Roller Team Pegaso 590 is also similar. Really good use of space. Only downside is very little outside locker storage.

I've never had it get condensation above the bed. But we've got a small skylight up there which probably improves airflow. Yes, it's effectively blocked when the bed is up.
 

dryad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 25, 2010
1,361
305,121
hermit in beautiful coastal east kent
Funster No
11,232
MH
citroen relay pvc
Exp
quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
good grief janine, that is dreadful..
what did they say has caused that or did you just walk away without mentioning it to them..
such a shame as other than that it looked a nice van..

.
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
50,165
138,237
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Had a bit of condensation once on our last A Class above the bed on a cold evening when the heating was on full blast. Only ever had it the once.
Never had it on the current one.

I think there is another thread with the same problem on a Pilote.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

cliffanger

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 15, 2013
4,684
32,745
Saltford
Funster No
25,562
MH
Hymer A class
Exp
Since 2013
My son and I went to look at an A class Pilote on a 14 plate this morning to replace the one he has. The layout works better for him with the drop-down bed. This is the one - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/motorhome-details/202210040403436

The seller is a caravan sales centre locally and the owner said that the asking price of £45,995 reflected the fact that the upholstery needed replacing and the van needed a good clean.

There were lots of tell-tale signs of adaptations by previous owners and a few blemishes, but they were largely cosmetic. I suspect that someone has been living in it and maybe not cherishing it. (I do have a theory….)

We pulled the bed down and were greeted with a ceiling which was literally dripping with water!

Obviously we have walked away from this one but do all vans with drop-down beds suffer like this in cold weather?

View attachment 712897
Ours never showed any signs of condensation - let alone that! 😳

We used our van through some pretty cold spells, and I can’t remember ever seeing any signs at all.

You did well to walk away, I would have ran!

Hope Adam finds a van soon. x
 
Nov 5, 2013
2,893
92,299
Shropshire
Funster No
28,900
MH
Carthago chic e-line
Exp
Since 2013
Just to put another slant on it if they've had the van cleaned and used a steam cleaner thats exactly where condensation would form being a smooth surface and the thinnest insulation especially at this time of year and with the bed up,no heating and least ventilation.
What did the van smell like when you went in?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Sep 17, 2017
4,924
8,722
Birmingham, UK
Funster No
50,575
MH
A-Class
Exp
2017
Just to put another slant on it if they've had the van cleaned and used a steam cleaner thats exactly where condensation would form being a smooth surface and the thinnest insulation especially at this time of year and with the bed up,no heating and least ventilation.
What did the van smell like when you went in?
Agreed. The moulded section above the windscreen has very little insulation, so will get cold. Combined with the poor airflow due to the raised bed. That's where you'd expect condensation to form if it was damp. But why was it damp? Cleaning would cause it. But do might a leak.
 
OP
OP
Janine

Janine

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
13,951
41,483
A little bit left of Middle England
Funster No
142
MH
2006 A/S Nuevo
Exp
since 1988
Just to put another slant on it if they've had the van cleaned and used a steam cleaner thats exactly where condensation would form being a smooth surface and the thinnest insulation especially at this time of year and with the bed up,no heating and least ventilation.
What did the van smell like when you went in?
Unfortunately I don’t have much of a sense of smell nowadays so I don’t know.

There was mould on the curtain sides and in a recess over the bed so I am guessing that it’s not something that has just happened.
 
Nov 5, 2013
2,893
92,299
Shropshire
Funster No
28,900
MH
Carthago chic e-line
Exp
Since 2013
Agreed. The moulded section above the windscreen has very little insulation, so will get cold. Combined with the poor airflow due to the raised bed. That's where you'd expect condensation to form if it was damp. But why was it damp? Cleaning would cause it. But do might a leak.

I wouldn't have expected a leak to form beading like that,I'd say it's come from moisture in the air condensating,as to where that's come from 🤷🏼

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:

dryad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 25, 2010
1,361
305,121
hermit in beautiful coastal east kent
Funster No
11,232
MH
citroen relay pvc
Exp
quite a few years now, and loving every minute..
I wouldn't have expected a leak to form beading like that,I'd say it's come from moisture in the air condensating,as to where it's come from 🤷🏼

my thoughts are that its come from a sodden bed, no way could that bed be dry, but how did the bed get so wet in the first place..........
thats the number one question..

.
 

brynric

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 5, 2009
691
1,346
Worcestershire
Funster No
8,333
MH
Pilote G600
Exp
2012
Our Pilote A class has no damp but the bed in the raised position allows no ventilation to the roof above the cab.
We always leave the bed down a little when in storage and we always bring the bed down half an hour before bedtime in the winter to let some heat circulate.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Aug 15, 2014
2,498
3,181
Exiled in Yorkshire
Funster No
32,840
MH
Pilote 600L
Exp
Since 2006
Never had any problem with three similar layout vans, two Hymers and my present Pilote, always drop the bed 30 mins-ish before going to bed in the winter and whilst the van is in storage leave the bed down and the mattress pulled half way off the slats resting on the seat backs.
 
Last edited:
Feb 6, 2019
400
910
Santa Maria de Palautordera, Barcelona, Spain
Funster No
58,389
MH
LMC Liberty 560 1992
Exp
Since 2017
Might someone have been using a gas bottle heater in the van instead of the inbuilt vented or electric heating?

As a much younger person in a caravan, I recall very similar looking condensation from the use of a heater like that - they give off great heat but it is positively wet and the water condenses on any cold surface.


Never had any problem with three similar layout vans, two Hymers and my present Pilote, always drop the bed 30 mins-ish before going to bed in the winter and whilst the van is in storage leave the bed down and the mattress pulled half way off the slats resting on the seat backs.
good old fashioned and effective air-flow ventilation advice!
 
OP
OP
Janine

Janine

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
13,951
41,483
A little bit left of Middle England
Funster No
142
MH
2006 A/S Nuevo
Exp
since 1988
Might someone have been using a gas bottle heater in the van instead of the inbuilt vented or electric heating?

As a much younger person in a caravan, I recall very similar looking condensation from the use of a heater like that - they give off great heat but it is positively wet and the water condenses on any cold surface.



good old fashioned and effective air-flow ventilation advice!
That fits in with my theory of the previous owners.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

The Coops

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 8, 2019
1,634
31,015
The Fylde
Funster No
63,926
MH
Waiting for new one
Exp
Yes, thank you
As an A class Pilote owner I do as others do and when leaving the van drop the bed down for air circulation and lift the rear mattresses, the condensation is a result of poor circulation and the mattress acts as a thermal barrier drawing in the cold, there is an adjustable strap to hold the bed up, it needs to be set for a few inches more travel than tight against the roof and then no problem
 
Jan 28, 2016
2,394
2,764
Stockport, Cheshire
Funster No
41,498
MH
Bravaria i740 AClass
Mine was like that in the cold spell before Christmas. Classic sign of condensation when water beads like that, not damp as in water ingress. Easily cured by ventilation i hadnt left my skylight open. Also caused mould on the blinds easily removed with hg mould spray. Also drop the bed down on the adjustable strap.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top